Month: October 2024

Army Reservist sentenced in Fayetteville 2021 killing of Kotasha Griffith

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, HomicideLeave a comment

Army reservist sentenced for her part in 2021 Fayetteville murder

“A former Army reservist was sentenced to probation last week for her part in a deadly shooting in 2021 in which a man was gunned down in a neighborhood off Ramsey Street as he waited to meet up with a girl he talked to on Instagram.”

“Damaryia Shantelle Mack, 23, pleaded guilty in January to felony accessory after the fact of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle in the July 23, 2021, death of Kotasha Glenroy Griffith, 27, of Fayetteville. Mack received a sentence of three years probation with a suspended prison sentence of 25 to 42 months.”

Read on www.fayobserver.com/story/news/crime/2024/10/14/woman-sentenced-in-fayetteville-2021-killing-of-kotasha-griffith/75587432007/

Lantern Walk gets a military makeover

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, In Their Name, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Non Combat Death, Stateside Death, Suicide, USAF, USCG, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

Oct. 19 event to shine a light on mental health struggles of veterans, active-duty service members.

This year, the Brandon Caserta Foundationand ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center are teaming up for a lantern procession of their own, this one to raise awareness around the mental health struggles of veterans and active-duty service members.

“Suicide in the military is at an epidemic level, and we’re hoping this walk is a way to honor the ones we have lost, the ones who are struggling and the ones who have attempted to take their lives but are still with us,” said Teri Caserta, who along with husband Patrick started the Brandon Caserta Foundation in 2021. The foundation offers assistance, guidance, education and resources to active-duty service members, veterans and their families.

Read on news.asu.edu/20241015-local-national-and-global-affairs-lantern-walk-gets-military-makeover

More than 800 military veterans receive honorable discharges from Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” records review

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Military Policy, National Guard, Navy, Scandals, USAF, USMCLeave a comment

“The news comes a little more than a year after proactively reviewing the records of LGBTQ+ veterans who might be eligible for an honorable discharge but had not yet applied for one. The 800+ veterans receiving this relief will see their discharge papers – known as a DD-214 – automatically change to “honorable” without the burden of having to go through the military’s formal process of applying for a discharge upgrade. An honorable discharge status unlocks access to benefits that some of these veterans may have been missing out on for decades, including things like health care, college tuition assistance, VA loan programs and even some jobs.”

“In a separate effort announced in June, President Biden sought to redress some of the harms brought about by the military justice system against those suspected of homosexuality when he issued pardons for former service members convicted under a military law from years past that explicitly criminalized consensual ‘sodomy.'”

Read more: www.cbsnews.com/news/military-veterans-honorable-discharges-dont-ask-dont-tell-review/

Family members, victims of Lewiston mass shooting to take legal action against Army

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, National Guard, Non Combat Death, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, Stateside Death, SuicideLeave a comment

Attorneys say the notices summarize some of the key facts uncovered to date that support their negligence claims, including:

  • Between March and July 2023, the Army became aware that Card had suffered a severe and precipitous decline in his mental health, resulting in erratic and combative behaviors, and promised to take steps to address Card’s condition. The Army failed to act.
  • The Army, KACH and DoD knew that Card had been exposed to thousands of blast events from his work as a firearms and grenade instructor but did not investigate whether physiological damage to Card’s brain from such blast exposure was a root cause of Card’s sudden and inexplicable onset of mental illness, or otherwise determine whether Card’s illness was caused or exacerbated in the “line of duty,” as required by Army regulations.
  • In July and August 2023, the Army and KACH determined that Card’s mental illness—including paranoia, delusions, and homicidal ideations with development of a “hit list”—posed a serious risk to himself and others, but nevertheless allowed Card to return to the community without the cause of his mental illness determined or a plan for treatment, and without reporting Card under New York’s SAFE Act or Red Flag laws.
  • Although Card’s doctors released him from the hospital on the condition that he no longer have access to firearms, and the Army and KACH assured his doctors that they would remove Card’s firearms, they did not do so and left Card in possession of numerous weapons, including the AR-10 assault rifle he used to carry out the mass shooting.
  • Following Card’s release from the hospital and return to Maine, the Army and KACH failed to notify local Maine law enforcement, provide them with Card’s recent history or inform them that Card’s doctors had directed that Card be separated from his firearms.
  • In September 2023, when the Army learned that Card had threated to shoot up the military base in Saco and commit a mass shooting, the Army downplayed and minimized the threat (despite later acknowledging that it was serious and credible), and actively discouraged local law enforcement from taking decisive action.

Read more here: wgme.com/news/local/family-members-victims-of-lewiston-mass-shooting-start-process-of-suing-army-robert-card-maine-gun-violence-schemengees-bar-and-grille-just-in-time-recreation-governor-janet-mills-attorney-general-aaron-frey

Air Force maintainers will learn more about mishaps but can’t share it

On By AdministratorIn Accidents, Armed Forces, Military Policy, Non Combat Death, USAFLeave a comment

“The Air Force is trying to halt an increase in maintenance-related aircraft mishaps by putting new safety training and briefings in place for maintainers that the service says will now require those airmen to sign non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, in the process. An NDA is a legal contract that prevents the sharing of such information.”

“The beefed-up training and briefings will allow the Air Force to confidentially share the details on these accidents and quickly teach maintainers what lessons have been learned, Stefanek said.”

“But some critics worry that the NDAs could stifle the Air Force publicly acknowledging its mishaps.”

Read more here: www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2024/10/14/air-force-maintainers-will-learn-more-about-mishaps-but-cant-share-it/

Army veteran killed wife after becoming ‘tired of her adult modeling career’

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Stateside Death, VeteransLeave a comment
Kathleen West

“The courtroom was gripped as details emerged of how West, trained in crime scene investigation, allegedly used his expertise to stage an accident. A medical specialist testified that Kat’s head wound was too extreme to result from a fall, given her petite stature at 5ft 2in.“

“During discourse on the couple’s tensions, prosecutors illustrated a volatile relationship, asserting they had argued about Kat’s mature online content after drinking. The prosecutor painted a scenario: “He is fed up with this stuff,” then suggested an altercation ensued where West tossed Kat’s phone onto the street.“

“In November 2020, after five hours of jury deliberation, West was acquitted of murder but convicted of reckless manslaughter… The judge acknowledged West’s military service and clean record but reproached him for not admitting guilt in a plea deal, leaving it to the jury to determine his responsibility for Kat’s death.“

Read on http://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/army-veteran-killed-wife-after-745805

Navy SEALs Drownings in Raid at Sea Were Preventable Investigation Finds

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Two U.S. Navy SEALs drowned while attempting to board a ship carrying weapons to Yemen due to training failures, a military investigation has found.

Christopher J. Chambers and Nathan Gage Ingram died in the high seas off Somalia in January.

A heavily redacted report, revealed “deficiencies, gaps and inconsistencies” in the Navy’s training, policies, tactics, and procedures.

Water depths of approximately 12,000 feet made retrieval unlikely.

“The Navy respects the sanctity of human remains and recognized the sea as a fit and final resting place,” the report said.

Their deaths have prompted changes in Naval Special Warfare Command’s training, including a review of flotation equipment policies and man-overboard procedures.

Read on http://www.newsweek.com/navy-seals-drownings-houthis-yemen-investigation-preventable-1967581

Update: 20% Air National Guard benefits claims denied

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October 9, 2024

In 2023, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records found she was “the victim of an error or injustice,” and ordered that she receive back pay and benefits. She told ABC15 that the National Guard fully compensated her before her retirement.

“Even though this was probably the hardest thing that I’ve had to fight in my military career and stand up for, I think my timing was great and being able to use it and help other people,” Kjornes said.

After ABC15 aired Kjornes’ story, we connected with airmen across the country. Their local commanders also had approved their medical claims, but they were later denied during a second review at National Guard Bureau headquarters.

“We just had a sense that it wasn’t right,” said Lt. Col. Rich Cullen, a Washington Air National Guard member, who had several claims approved, then denied.

“It’s either incompetency, apathy or corruption,” said Lt. Col. Mitch Hall. “You kind of feel abandoned.”

Read more: www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/update-20-air-national-guard-benefits-claims-denied